NG Bailey commits itself to a future based on sustainability
One of the UK’s largest building-services providers has launched its first sustainability report detailing its approach to social, economic and environmental sustainability.
AutoCAD MEP software helps bring problem project back on track
Having become involved in a working project that was suffering co-ordination problems, Fulcro Engineering Services was able to use AutoCAD software to help put things right quickly.
Understanding the route to truly open control systems
Ron Bernstein reflects on what he perceives as the open-systems myth and provides a perspective on marketplace confusion in the quest for truly open systems.
Traditional engineering is the key to sustainability
Growing demand for sustainable buildings is creating increased demand for traditional building services skills, says John Miller, president of the Heating & Ventilating Contractors’ Association.
Lumicom scheme makes light work of recycling luminaires
Gateshead has become the first local authority in the UK to recycle its redundant lighting equipment since the introduction of the WEEE Directive (Waste Electrical & Electronic Equipment) in July.
Pilkington delivers higher energy efficiency for windows
Pilkington has developed an insulating glass unit for windows that can be used with most frame materials to achieve a Window Energy Rating of at least C and easily exceed the requirement for compliance with Part L of the Building Regulations.
Solar thermal as a source of renewable energy
In a building with the right energy balance, using solar energy to produce domestic hot water can meet the 10% renewable requirement. Yan Evans gives practical advice how to get the best from this technology.
Building simulation software helps deliver office with highest-ever BREEAM score
IES Consulting worked closely with consulting engineers King Shaw Associates (KSA) to provide independent validation of the design for the building that has achieved the highest-ever BREEAM score. The Green Office project at Thorpe Park, Leeds, has achieved a BREEAM score of 87.55%. The design was validated before construction began.
A changing climate for thermal mass
Exploiting thermal mass within a building can eliminate the need for air conditioning. Tom De Saulles explains how.
Priva helps Dublin school go greener
Monitored energy results for the first year of operation of the Archbishop Ryan School in Dublin indicate that its energy performance is twice as good as that of a school constructed to meet the good-practice targets outlined in CIBSE Guide F. Energy consumption was monitored by the Priva control system installed by Temperature Control Systems to optimise the operation of lighting and heating systems in response to the benefits of passive solar gain, daylight and natural ventilation.
OFTEC takes steps to establish a standard for biofuel
OFTEC has brought together leading manufacturers and several industry bodies to research and define a clear British standard for liquid biofuel for the heating sector.
Glow-worm introduces range of solar thermal products
Glow-worm is entering the solar market with a range of products branded Clearly Solar. There are four products in the range.
Nu-Way moves into larger biomass boilers
Nu-Ways EcoMass 75 range of biomass boilers is designed for commercial and industrial use, with five models providing outputs from 100 to 750 kW.
Green is here to stay, but is it putting down roots?
Keith Melton reflects on the thinking that is needed to deliver sustainable buildings.
Natural ventilation by design
Natural-ventilation systems that can respond fully to ever-changing outdoor conditions are much more effective than systems with limited response capability. Richard Arnott explains.
Lighting management built in at start in City refurbishment
Helping companies moving into an office development at 15 Fetter Lane in the City of London reduce their carbon emissions is a lighting-management system from Ex-Or.
GSHP provides central services for Cornish development
Two ground-source heat pumps provide heating and hot water for a development of 12 apartments and two penthouses on the Clipper Cove development at Praa Sands on the south coast of Cornwall.
Rainwater recycling
DAB Pumps Aquaprof collects rainwater and uses it for purposes such as flushing toilets, washing machines, garden irrigation and vehicle washing. This water is delivered at mains pressure. If there is not enough stored rain water, the Aquaprof switches to an integral back-up tank containing mains water.
The role of pumps in delivering energy savings
There is very little to be gain by improving the efficiency of pumps to reduce their energy consumption. Much more can be saved — about half — using speed control and the better design of systems, as John Veness explains.
Countering the fire risk
It is over 60 years since a death was recorded in the UK in a building with a working sprinkler system. Glynn Williams cuts through the complexities of using pumps to protect against the risk of fire.
Wilo shows the way to reduce pumping costs
Replacing pumps in 12 plantrooms at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth with equivalent pumps from Wilos energy-efficient range will reduce energy consumption by £70 000 a year a useful dent on the electricity bill of over £1 million a year.
Grundfos energy project enters its third phase
Grundfos is moving into the third phase of its project to increase awareness of how using efficient circulators can significantly reduce carbon-dioxide emissions. The project started in 2005 with the launch of the worlds first A-rated domestic circulator the Alpha Pro.
How Grundfos aids pump selection
To help customers decide which pumps would best suit their needs, regardless of the application, Grundfos provides a range of selection tools which have become industry standards. These aids are constantly reviewed and updated to keep them relevant.
Delivering energy-efficient pumps
Designing systems with duty and standby pumps that can both meet maximum demand is must not efficient. Wayne Rose explores other approaches.
Smedegaard enhances the efficiency of circulators
Smedegaard has developed a range of electronic energy-saving circulators that use up to 60% less energy than a standard pump.
The world’s most efficient circulator?
The Wilo-Stratos ECO high-efficiency pump has been given an 'excellent' rating by the German consumers association Stiftung Warentest. It came top in tests as the best in energy efficiency and ratio of price to performance compared to all other small circulating pumps.
On a mission to save energy
Lee Tebbatt explains how variable-speed pumps very quickly repay their extra capital cost in vastly reduced running costs.
BACnet-capable drives speed commissioning at Blackburn Hospital
Over a hundred HVAC drives with native BACnet capability have been installed in the new Blackburn Hospital to control water pumps and motors for air-handling units. One of the key benefits was a significant time saving during commissioning.
Fair payment in public sector gets off to a flying start
Leading bodies in the construction industry have endorsed the Office of Government Commerces Fair Payment Charter, which commits public-sector clients and their principal contractors and supply-chain members to formally adopt fair-payment principles in future construction projects.
Andrews receives its Queen’s Award for Enterprise
During his visit to the new premises of Andrews Water Heaters at Erdington, Her Majestys Deputy Lieutenant for the West Midlands, Colonel Anthony George, MBE, presented the company with the Queens Award for Enterprise in the Innovation Category and Grant of Appointment for development of the MAXxflow condensing water heater. He also opened the companys commercial-heating training academy.
HVCA brings benefits of its services to a wider market
To promote the wide range of services available from the HVCA group of companies, the Heating & Ventilating Contractors Association has launched HVCA Business Plus. This initiative is aimed at building-services-engineering contractors.
North-west contractors combine expertise to offer clients a single point of contact
Kimpton Building Services in The Wirral in north west England has teamed up to with a building contractor and an electrical contractor to pool the expertise of each company and offer clients a single point of contact across the three trades. The consortium is called TKR, and its single point of contact eliminates the involvement and costs of using sub-contracted operatives. The other members of the consortium are building contractor The Trustland Group and electrical contractor The Rosebery Group.
Ellen MacArthur launches CIBSE’s 100 days campaign
Dame Ellen MacArthur, the record-breaking round-the-world yachtswoman, launched CIBSEs 100 days of carbon clean-up campaign at the Energy Event last month. She has become a champion of the campaign, thanks to her on-going partnership with the campaign sponsors E.ON, represented in the picture by Tim Pyke (right), head of climate change at E.ON.
Air-conditioning contractors complete Cannonball Run
National air-conditioning distributor Oceanair UK teamed up with Sanyo Air Conditioner to sponsor Lee Jackson and Glen Raven of Lee Jackson Air Conditioning in the 2007 Cannonball Run Europe rally. They drove their Porsche turbo cabriolet through 11 European countries, starting from Sandown Race Course in Surrey. Stops included Lake Garda in Italy, Slovakia, Budapest, Berlin and Antwerp to finish in the UK in 18th position in a 60-strong field.
Mitsubishi increases commitment to lower-carbon technology
Building on its Green Gateway Initiative launched earlier this year, Mitsubishi Electric Living Environmental System UK is no longer promoting cooling-only air-conditioning products in the UK and is phasing out all existing models from its stock.
Solar power takes to the water
The new Serpentine Solar Shuttle operated by BlueBird Boats in Londons Hyde Park is entirely powered by solar energy. On the canopy of this 14.3 m catamaran, which can carry 40 passengers, are solar cells that can generate up to 2 kW of power and which are used to charge batteries. The batteries supply two 3-phase drives via an inverter system. These drives have a total output of 20 kW, enabling the boat to reach 15 km/h.
ACE survey confirms acute skills shortages and highlights unethical practices
There are estimated to be 20 000 unfilled jobs in the consultancy and engineers sector, according to a new report by the Association for Consultancy & Engineering (ACE).
Major education project for White Young Green
The Manchester office of consultants White Young Green has been selected to act as M&E consultant for an innovative £58 million project for St Helens College in Merseyside.
Biggest-ever chiller order for Johnson Controls
Johnson Controls has reported its biggest-ever order for York chillers. 46 water-cooled chillers are destined for a project in Pearl Island, Qatar to cool 15 000 residential and commercial units. These chillers will deliver over 130 000 t of chilled water each day. Each has a cooling capacity of 8.8 MW and uses R134a.
Briggs & Forrester wins project on Cambridge Science Park
Briggs & Forrester has been awarded a £2.7 million contract to design and install the M&E for building 101 on Cambridge Science Park, with Shepherd Construction.
CCL Veloduct name changes to Lindab
Following the recent merger of CCL Veloduct and Lindab, the company is to be known simply as Lindab. The name change marks the last step in a programme begun a year ago with the acquisition of CCL Veloduct by the Lindab Group of Sweden in a £27 million deal to create a major company in ventilation and air movement.
Axair changes name to Walter Meier
Axair Climate is changing its name to Walter Meier (Climate Solutions) Ltd. The change takes effect on 1 January 2008 and is the new name for all companies in the Walter Meier Holdings Group. The move is intended to provide greater recognition of the complementary areas of expertise within the group and the synergies between them.
HVCA president urges the Government to enforce Part L of Building Regulations
HVCA president John Miller has challenged the Government to enforce important changes introduced last year to Part L of the Building Regulations.
AMEC sells facilities-services business
AMEC has sold its building and facilities-services business (BFS) to SPIE SA for a cash consideration of £117 million.
HSE warns on safety risks
Nearly a third of construction refurbishment sites inspected by the Health & Safety Executive put the lives of workers at risk according to the HSEs head of construction, Stephen Williams.
Security systems
The latest of Honeywells technical solutions guides deals with security. It is the second in a series of publications designed to offer design tips to steer new and experienced industry professionals towards the best working practices.
Bitzer refrigerant report receives CPD accreditation
The fourteenth edition of Bitzers series of refrigerant reports has received CPD (Continuing Professional Development) accreditation.
Building-services calculations
The second edition of BSRIAs guide to HVAC building-services calculations has been expanded to include new and revised sections and provides practical, easy-to-follow methodologies for a range of calculations used in the design and sizing of heating, ventilating and air-conditioning systems.
Rooftop building services
Roof-Pros support systems and components for building-services equipment installed on rooftops are detailed in a new products, systems and design guide. These products are designed to facilitate flexible and efficient installation of a wide variety of roof-mounted services and fixtures.
Understanding steam systems
Spirax Sarco has published a comprehensive practical guide to steam systems. The steam and condensate loop is described as a superb training and reference resource to help engineers optimise plant operations and save energy.
Welcome
When you go to our digital edition, you can also access the archive of digital editions.
January 2019: DIGITAL EDITION
ARCHIVE OF DIGITAL EDITIONS
Modern Building services has a group
on Linkedin - join us!
